Save Patuakhali town

The Launch Terminal Road in Patuakhali town, snapped on Monday. PHOTO: STAR

The town is surrounded by the Patuakhali river on the north and by the Lohalia river on the east. Waters from the rivers rolls into the town whenever they rise.

The Tk 17.27 crore project was taken up after the visit of the then agriculture minister Mamjid-ul_Haque and the Water Develop-ment Board (WDB) Secretary to Patuakhali in 1997.

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It includes contraction of 4.20 kilometres flood control embankment, construction of slice gates, 38 outlets, one kilometre wall and installation of four power pumps.

The water resources ministry approved the project in 2001. Since then, it is awaiting approval by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC), Patuakhali Pourasabha Chairman Mostaq Ahmed told this correspondent on Monday at his office.

Back in the sixties, a flood control embankment project was taken up to protect Patuakhali town and coastal upazilas of Kalapara, Galachipa, Dashmina, Bauphal and Mirjagonj from flood and saline water. The town was later excluded from the project, considering its low-lying position.

Patuakhali town was included in the project and it was renamed Patuakhali Town Protection Em-bankment cum-Drainage Project.

The most vulnerable areas in Patuakhali town included Puran Bazar, Chak Bazar, Kath Patti, Nabab Para, Shimul Bagh, Muslimpara, Sabuj Bagh, Collage Road, Adalat Para, Char Para, Sadar Road, Munsef Para and Kalikapur where water remains stagnant for days after high tide, rain or flood.

Besides flood control, the new project is designed to remove stagnant water from the town.

When contacted, BWDB Executive Engineer Abdul Majid Molla said, "We sent at least 50 letters to higher authorities to implement the project, but to no result".